The 73rd Amendment empowered Gram Sabhas as the core of grassroots democracy, yet civic education still centres on Parliament and global bodies, overlooking where democracy is lived daily.

Importance of Gram Sabha in Democratic Architecture

• Constitutional Legitimacy (Article 243A): Article 243A recognizes Gram Sabha as the fundamental decision-making body of Panchayati Raj, giving constitutional backing to direct democracy at the village level.
• Inclusive Representation: Every registered voter of the village is a member of the Gram Sabha, making it the most inclusive platform of citizen participation.
• Grassroots Decision-Making: Villagers collectively approve budgets, development works, and welfare plans, ensuring decisions reflect local needs and realities.
• Transparency and Accountability: Discussions occur in open meetings, increasing transparency and promoting social accountability of local elected representatives.

Key Challenges Faced by Gram Sabhas

• Neglect in Curriculum: School education highlights Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, and global models like Model United Nations, while leaving Panchayati Raj institutions largely unaddressed.
• Perception as Administrative, Not Democratic: Students rarely witness or participate in Gram Sabhas, leading to the perception that these are bureaucratic routines, not democratic spaces.
• Low Aspirational Value: Due to lack of exposure, youth do not visualise roles like Sarpanch or ward member as leadership pathways.
• Missed Leadership Pipeline: Without aspirational value, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) fail to attract skilled and motivated young leaders, weakening grassroots governance.

Model Youth Gram Sabha (2025)- A Curriculum Intervention

• Objective of the Initiative: Launched by Ministry of Panchayati Raj with Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tribal Welfare and Aspirational Bharat Collaborative to make democracy experiential.
• Real-World Simulation: Students role-play Sarpanch, ward members, engineers, and health workers to discuss budgets and development proposals, mirroring an actual Gram Sabha.
• Teacher Training and Incentives: A cadre of master trainers trains teachers, while certificates and rewards encourage participation.

Scale and Expansion Strategy

• Phase 1 Rollout: Implemented in over 1,000 schools across 28 States and 8 UTs, including Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs), Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), and Zilla Parishad schools.
• Capacity Building: 126 master trainers trained 1,238 teachers across 24 States/UTs to ensure uniform implementation
• Pilot Successes: Pilots in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan showed large-scale student participation, turning schools into “living classrooms of democracy.”
• Phase 2 Expansion: Planned expansion to include all government schools, enabling nationwide participation.

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Significance of this Initiative

• Democratising Aspirations: Makes Gram Sabha leadership aspirational like Model UN makes diplomacy aspirational.
• Strengthening Decentralisation: Cultivates future administrators and legislators who value local governance.
• Embedding Citizenship: Converts civics from textbook theory to lived civic engagement — “don’t just study democracy, practice it.”

Conclusion

When Gram Sabha participation becomes aspirational and experiential, active citizenship becomes a habit cultivated from school itself. Only then can Viksit Bharat shift from a document of ambition to a lived democratic practice.

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